Wen Tingxue's heart skipped a beat. Just as she was about to make an excuse to leave, Wen Zhongen leaned out from the car and waved with a smile.
"Yi Yi, come in."
The man looked at the girl's pale face and smiled helplessly.
"Old Wen, I think I scared your daughter."
"Hmm?"
Wen Zhongen raised an eyebrow in confusion, then slapped his forehead, regretting it.
"It's my fault. I forgot just now. It's Daddy's fault."
As he spoke, Wen Tingxue had already gotten into the car.
Wen Zhongen extended his arm and pulled his daughter onto his lap, coaxing her from side to side.
He was afraid his daughter would refuse to let him pick her up in the future.
Wen Tingxue had had the least contact with Wen Zhongen since she returned.
And most of the time was spent at the dinner table.
There were hardly any conversations.
Although Wen Tingxue knew he was very good to her, they had little contact, so her inner dependence could not be established.
Naturally, she would not take the initiative to get close.
However, she never resisted others getting close to her.
Perhaps it was due to a lack of love, she cherished every relationship.
Even if she suffered a little grievance, it was nothing.
So, even though she didn't like the smell of alcohol, she didn't push Wen Zhongen away.
Fortunately, he hadn't drunk much, and the smell of alcohol wasn't too strong, but he spoke a bit repetitively.
He would repeat a sentence three or four times, insisting that she nod each time before he stopped.
Wen Tingxue thought he was drunk, but his behavior was quite normal.
"This is the boss of Daddy's company, Daddy's benefactor. His name is Uncle Mu."
After coaxing his daughter, Wen Zhongen pointed to the man and introduced him.
Wen Tingxue politely greeted him, "Hello, Uncle Mu."
President Mu smiled, his demeanor gentle and refined. "Hello, Yi Yi. Are you adapting well at school recently?"
Wen Tingxue recalled seeing President Mu's name mentioned when she met the principal before entering the school.
She quickly thanked him. "Everything is fine, thank you for your help, Uncle Mu."
President Mu was taken aback for a moment, then he smiled and said, "Old Wen, your daughter is much more sensible than my son. Daughters are really better."
Wen Zhongen laughed. "Boys will be boys, it's normal."
President Mu turned to Wen Tingxue and asked, "Little girl, I heard from the principal that Shang Ziqian caused trouble for you?"
"Shang Ziqian?" Wen Zhongen sobered up instantly. "What did he do to you?!"
Wen Tingxue waved her hand. "It's nothing, it's all in the past."
President Mu raised an eyebrow. "Then why were you so cautious and guarded when you received your father's message?"
Wen Tingxue: "..."
As expected of the CEO of a listed company, his insight was indeed extraordinary.
She had indeed been afraid it was Shang Ziqian's scheme at the time.
Wen Zhongen frowned, his expression serious. "Dad will pick two bodyguards for you. Shang Ziqian is ruthless."
Wen Tingxue was stunned, and then a sense of dread washed over her.
Even President Mu and her father knew Shang Ziqian's reputation... doesn't that further prove that Shang Ziqian is not someone to be trifled with?
Wen Zhongen explained, "He considers me his sworn enemy and is an enforcer at underground casinos, collecting gambling debts and protection fees all year round. He's practically gone into the underworld, and almost everyone in Jiangcheng knows him."
President Mu then took out his phone.
"Here's what we'll do. Uncle will add you on WeChat. If anything happens, tell Uncle. I have some connections with his boss, and maybe I can help."
Wen Zhongen nodded, and they added each other as friends.
-
They were supposed to go home, but the company suddenly called with an urgent matter.
After asking for Wen Tingxue's opinion, Wen Zhongen headed to the company first.
Upon arrival, they immediately started a meeting.
Mu's company was very large and luxuriously decorated, occupying several floors.
However, Wen Tingxue was timid and didn't dare to wander around. With nothing else to do, she found a spot in Wen Zhongen's office to do her homework.
And then send it to Yu Wenli to see.
In the blink of an eye, it was half past eleven. The meeting ended, but they didn't seem to relax at all. Instead, everyone was so busy they couldn't lift their heads.
It looked like they would be working through the night again.
Wen Tingxue remembered Wen Zhongen's stomach problems and bit her lip before asking the secretary for an employee badge.
She walked out of the office building and found many restaurants open nearby.
Wen Tingxue thought it over and chose some light congee and slightly heavier barbecue.
She didn't know what everyone liked, so it was better to prepare some of everything.
While waiting, she vaguely heard a cat meowing by the flower bed.
The sound was soft, like a kitten's.
Seeing that there was still time, Wen Tingxue followed the sound and found a black and white kitten by the flower bed.
It was probably hungry and meowing pitifully.
Wen Tingxue slowly moved closer, softly comforting it.
"Meow meow~ Meow, be good~ Sister is not a bad person~ Sister will take you to eat..."
Strangely, the kitten wasn't afraid of her. When she reached out to pick it up, it rubbed its fluffy head against her palm.
It also let out soft meows.
It was simply adorable.
Wen Tingxue carefully picked it up.
Before she could get a good look, a shadow suddenly fell over her.
Wen Tingxue, holding the kitten, looked up with a guarded expression.
The young man standing in front of her was tall, wearing a standard school uniform, with a black mask covering most of his face.
His neck-length, smog-blue hair was covered by a black fisherman's hat, with a few strands of hair peeking out.
His eyebrows and eyes were hidden under the brim of the hat, making them impossible to see clearly.
But he was holding a can of cat food, seemingly there to feed the cat.
The key point was that the kitten meowed at him as soon as it saw him, as if it were acting spoiled.
Wen Tingxue bravely ventured, "Do you know it?"
She pointed to the kitten in her arms.
"Mm."
Mu Chen nodded lightly, then reached out and poked the kitten's head.
His deep, slightly cold voice was tinged with a hint of pampering, very moving.
"Xiao Jiu! You're running around again during mealtime. If you keep doing this, I won't come for you anymore."
Despite his words, he still opened the can of cat food.
He gently tapped the bottom of the can with a finger wearing a ring.
The kitten immediately wriggled and cried even more eagerly.
Wen Tingxue reluctantly let it down.
The two of them stood by it, watching it eat greedily.
"Is it your cat?"
Wen Tingxue asked.
Although the young man looked unapproachable, she had to make sure before she felt at ease.
Mu Chen leaned back against the stone chair with his hands, appearing very comfortable and relaxed.
He shook his head at her question, his voice indifferent. "Abandoned cat."
"Abandoned cat?!" Wen Tingxue was shocked. "You're throwing away such a well-behaved cat?"
She thought it was someone's pet that had accidentally escaped.
It didn't look very dirty.
Mu Chen chuckled. "Does one need a reason to abandon a cat?"
His clear voice was laced with sarcasm.
He turned his head, and Wen Tingxue followed his gaze.
By the flower bed not far away, many cats had gathered and were eating cat food.
They were all healthy and cute, so why were they considered abandoned cats?
Wen Tingxue felt a pang of sadness. "Have you been feeding them all this time?"
There was no response.
Wen Tingxue turned her head and saw him hanging up a call. The screen displayed: Father.
Mu Chen looked up, glanced at her lightly, and then nodded. "You could say that."
"Interested in keeping a few?"
After a long silence, the young man suddenly spoke. His eyes under the hat were dark and bright, like some sort of plea.
"In a while, they're going to be sent away."
A trace of sadness flickered in his eyes.
Wen Tingxue was stunned. "Sent away? Where are they going?"